KERALA & TAMILNADU
Tour Code : SV 101
Duration : 14 nights / 15 days
Day 1 :
Arrival at Trivandrum. Transfer to Paravoor a small village
on the banks of the backwaters near Kollam town or a unique
floating resort near Kovalam. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2 & 3:
Transfer to Mararikulam Beach and check into a theme resort.
At leisure at the resort to enjoy the beach and the surf.
Day 4 :
AM transfer to Cochin to check into a heritage hotel located
in historic Fort Cochin. Freshen up and go on a guided 1/2 day
local S/S tour in and around Fort Cochin to visit :
St. Francis Portuguese church.
Jewish Synagogue.
Dutch Palace.
Antiques and Spices market.
Bishops house to see church relics. Lunch back at the hotel.
Noon: Shopping trip to Ernakulam city.
Evening: Attend the Kathakali show.
Dinner return to the hotel.
Day 5 :
AM after a leisurely breakfast check out from the hotel and
transfer to " Puthengadi boat jetty " to board the
Houseboat by 12 noon, for and an overnight cruise along the
scenic backwaters. Enroute stop by at small coir making units,
local churches, temples, villages etc.
Day 6 :
AM after breakfast on board the houseboat, disembark at a
resort set in the heart of the backwaters of Kumarakom. Accommodation
here is in old, reassembled wooden traditional Kerala houses.
Rest of the day at leisure at the resort. Evening option of
visiting the Kumarakom bird sanctuary next door.
Day 7 :
Check out from the resort and transfer by road to Thekkady
/ Periyar ( 4 hrs ). Check in by lunchtime into a resort set
in the midst of a Spice plantation. Evening go for a guided
trek through the forests.
Day 8 :
At Thekkady / Periyar. Early morning go for a 2 hr boat ride
on Periyar Lake to see the Wildlife the only way to see it.
Return to the resort for breakfast. Later in the morning go
on a guided Plantation tour to visit Tea estates, factory
and a Spice farm. Lunch at the resort and the rest of the
evening on your own to explore the town.
Day 9:
AM check out from the resort and transfer by road to Madurai
( 3 1/2 hrs ). Check into the hotel. Noon at leisure to explore
this bustling Temple town. Evening visit the Madurai Meenakshi
temple to watch the colourful and interesting closing rituals.
Day 10:
At Madurai. Shop for souvenirs, Silks etc. Visit the Tirumalanayak
Palace and museum.
Day 11:
AM transfer to " Swamimalai " in Kumbakonam; enroute
stop by at Trichy ( 129 kms ) to see the Rock Fort temple,
Sreerangam temple and Tanjore to see one of the World Heritage
Monuments - Brihadeeswara temple, Saraboji Palace and Library,
The Art Gallery and the famous Music hall Sangeeth Mahal.
Late lunch at a city hotel and proceed to the Swamimalai resort
to check in by evening. The resort organizes different theme
dinners and concerts which are well thought-out and enjoyable.
Yoga and Ayurveda facilities are also available at the resort.
Day 12:
Based at Swamimalai visit Chidambaram - Temple of the cosmic
dancer Lord Nataraja, Gangaikonda Cholapuram a Chola period
sculptural monument. Evening return to the resort and relax
or go for a walk through the surrounding village.
Day 13:
AM visit nearby places of interest like Dharasuram, a 12th
century Temple known for its musical steps and which is also
one of the three replicas of the Tanjore temple. Vaitheeswaran
Kovil famous for Palm leaf futurologists and the Institute
of Iconography where you can get beautiful Bronze sculptures,
icons and statues. Noon return to the resort and rest of the
evening at leisure.
Day 14:
Early morning check out from the resort and transfer to Kumbakonam
railway station ( approx. 4 Kms ) to board the train to Kollam.
Dep: at 0405 reaching Kollam at 1620.
Train no 6705 Chennai - Kollam A/C 2 tier steeper available.
Placard pick up at Kollam station and transfer to Trivandrum
( 2 hrs ) and check into a city hotel. .
Day 15:
AM check out from hotel and transfer to Trivandrum International
airport to board the flight out of Kerala.
END OF TOUR. |
